The Osun State government has thrown its weight behind digital technology and artificial intelligence as a weapon to fight the swelling ranks of out-of-school children. At a two-day media dialogue in Osun, officials argued that innovative learning tools could close the education gap for the most vulnerable children.
Commissioner for Education Adedipo Eluwole, represented by Permanent Secretary Murtala Adekilekun Jimoh, said the rise of digital tech and AI offers a rare chance to reshape how children learn. He pointed out that millions of kids globally, including many in Nigeria, are locked out of formal schooling by poverty, geography, and insecurity. These children, he said, lose the chance to build their futures.
Digital learning platforms are already making education more accessible and engaging, Jimoh noted. He added that AI, if used responsibly, can tailor lessons to each child, spot where they are falling behind, support teachers, and improve planning. The goal is to reach children who have been left out of the system entirely.
Jimoh called on everyone involved to make sure no child is left behind by technology. He described the dialogue as a timely push to find new ways to bring out-of-school children into learning through tech and skills training. Education today, he stressed, must go beyond books to include digital, entrepreneurial, and life skills that lead to jobs and independence.
The media, he said, has a crucial role to play. Journalists can shine a light on the struggles of out-of-school children and share stories of success that push others to act. He urged participants to weigh both the promise and the pitfalls of digital learning and AI, especially around access, literacy, child safety online, and building programs that last.
Jimoh thanked UNICEF for its steady support, particularly through platforms like the Nigeria Learning Passport and Passport to Earning, which have helped children in Osun who cannot afford school. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to education, pointing to investments in school buildings, teaching materials, teacher training, and salaries.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Officer for South-West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, spoke virtually and urged journalists to keep the out-of-school crisis in the headlines. She warned that only one in four Nigerian children can read and do basic math by age 14. For the over 10 million children completely cut off from school, the situation is even worse.
These are real children, she said, growing up without the skills to find work, support families, or contribute to the economy. As technology and AI advance faster than ever, the gap between those with access to education and those without is only widening. Girls, she noted, are hit hardest.
Lafoucriere called on the media to drive change by keeping the story alive. When journalists return to an issue week after week, she said, policymakers and leaders listen. That is how things shift. A story that will not die is a story that gets acted upon.
The dialogue, she added, would showcase programs already helping out-of-school children and feature young people whose lives have been transformed by education. She urged reporters to amplify these stories and put them in front of decision-makers.
